A caveat for cold Christians : in a sermon ..

#r*

*iT*^L

PRINCETON, N. J. ^#

Collection of Puritan Literature.

Division «^-?T*^C?
Section l.XA.io^l

Number

-

CAVEAT

FOR COLD

CHRISTIANS.

IN

A SERMON PREACHED

BY Mr. Pavl Bayne, SOMTIMES

Miniiter of Gods Word at S". \^in<-

dt ewes, in Cambridge*

WHEREIN THE COMMON DIS^

cafe of Chriftians,with the remcdie3is plain-
ly and excellently fet downe for
alkhatwillvfek.

_ L-J : ^_ .

Iohn 15.9. 10.
Continue ye in my lone. If ye keepe my Commartdements,yc
fiall abide in my hue.

AT LONDON

Imprinted by Felix KyngUon, for Nathanael Newbery,

and are to be fold at his (hop vnder Sc. Peters

Church in Cornhill, and in Popes-head

All ey, right againft thefigneof

the white horfe. 1618.

TO THE WOR-

SHIPFVLL, HIS SIN-

GVLAR GOOD FRIEND, M'.

Robert Clavering3Towiic-

Clarke of Newcaftle, all hap-
y pincffc of a better life, and

this present.

Ir, considering the good accept
unce that Jfime former few
Sermons of that reltgioujly-
learncdjmd learn edly-relrgiosts
Diuine, tjttafter Paul Bayne
haue had with the Church of
God, the enfuing Sermon tying
hitherto by me, I was ( without
difficulty) induced to make it publtkc. For if I fhould
longer concede it y what know I whether fome body elfe,
who hzd not the like intcrcH to it that my felfe haue,
might notfreuent me in printing this, as well as thij
bane done in publishing fonte other things of the Itke na-
ture? LMoreouer, looking into the carriage and frame
of i his draughty I did not fee how it could difparage any
of the reft, which are flowne abroad before it. Lafly, if
m will ponder thefubiecl matter difcourfed of in the fol-
lowing leaues, I wtS permit it to any indifferent wife-
heat ted ChrisJian Reader, who vieweth the estate of the

A 2 times,

* Comwda
accommoda,

TTT^^W^^^T L 11 JJUU'itiilUHlLI

times, and waigbethaduifcdly whatfngular vice raign-
ith 5 what efpeciall graces are ordinarily deft5liue among
ProfeJJbrs, whether this Sermon vitereth not * profi-
table things, and profitable things in their fc*fon. For
when (refpecledSir) did the like wofull declining from
the ancient feruor of our firfi loue,fo generally fpread it
felfe through all the quarters of our I land f Me hath but
halfe an eye, who looking vp and downe, beholdeth not,
that euery Utile nothing in zealous forwardneffe of pro-
fefiion,fiemeth ( for the moH part) very fuffiaenU We
will neither diligently prouoke our fclucs to liuely procee-
dings in the way of powerful! walking with God$ neither
mil we patiently endure others to ontfirip vs,ana to a/pire
vnwtariedly after the higbeHl pitch of well doing* Thio
leauing our fir fi louejhis abatement of former light and
heateinour ChriHian courfe, is prone d in theenfuing
Sermon, andrcproued. When was there joint le minding
and remembring whence we are (generally) not flidden,
but (as it were) fallen headlong? When were there fo
fewftncere andfetled refolutions,to repent of the euillof
relinquijhing our firft loue , a finne wherein our land
hath finned,befides all its other finnes ? Alas, the ftnfiti-
p d employment of our memories Jo con fider whence we
are fallen^ (ham" and confufton of face working true re-
pentance, that we are fofowhe fallen 5 are flrange things
vntovsl although onefy the exercifeofthefe graces cm
raife vs vp to true happineffe in this life, and in the next*
That wem'tyftt vponthefe fauingpr*8>fcs% wee are effe-
SuaSy called vpon in the fore-named Sermon. So that
(as I formerly ftid) it will ( I perfwtde my felfe) prone
hth profitable and fia/bmble to theChriflun Reader •
who bath a iifcerning fpirit, both what his owne wants
4re,a»dhom, by tins Uttle booke, Jim pretty fiupply ma+

bo

1 HE X/n STLt UtUKAlURiEi

he aff corded htm for hisrcccutring.

Thus much why the Sermon ts publifhed : a word or
two {Worthy Sir) why, by a more efpeciill infcriptiony I
haue dedicated n to jour name. Fir ft (therefore ) 1 was
mcued hereto with an earneH dtjtre, to mantfeft fur-
ther then euer yet I haue done, the enttreneffe ofmydea-
refi officii on s toward you • who after oar many y eves
comfortable lomng and lining together ,ef late hutebeen
remouedfrom me into thofe Nor theme parts. T^ot being
there for enow able face to face to enioy the wonted fweet
inter c our (e offpeech^nd other friendlike offices, I longed
(noiwitbflanawg) to tell you, you were not fo much out
of mind, as out of fight. Secondly, I deftred that the de-
dication might befit the perfon, remembring Senecaes
counfeS : * we mufl take heede wee fend not fuperfluous *ytupecMM*
gift s y as to a woman or old man hunting weapons^ or to a bimui^emune-
clowne7bookes -or nets to one joQowin? his (ludtes, and ^"r™*"*
learning. On the contrary^ to fend a booke to a fchour\ or fams* ma fem
a Sermon, to an experienced profeffor, I cannot fee but it A,m* ********
maholdgvdprtfOTtton. ' Kfihfc

Thus not doubting 9but you will louingly receiue what <u Uteris dedk§

was louingly intended ',/ take my leaue ; deftrinz that hee [ctU: Stn,dc

/ / .*V r j i * • ben J. i. cap. i r.

who hath begun the good worke fome yeeres agoetnyeu,

and hath made you gracioujly proceed hitherto^ euen bee

(the mercifuK and true God) wou'd perfectly accomplish

it^vntotbeddyoflifusCbrifl* London. i£*8.

Yours in the fureft feond^

E^.Cb.

A3 A

A CAVEAT

FOR COLD CHRI-
ST i a n s.

Revel. 2. 4.5.
2{ttterthtltJJi I haut fomcwbat again ft thee, becaufe
thou baft left thy firfi lout: remember therefore from
whence thou art fallen, and repent, and dot thy frft
workes.

S a husband abfent aduerti-
feth his wife by letter, of that
which is behoouefull ; lb it
pleafeth our Sauiour Chrift,
abfcnt in body, though pr£-
fent in fpirit, to admonish
his Spoufe, aadthis Church
in particular, by an Epiftle
lent to hcr.In it we may obferue thefe three parts : Three parts in
6rft,the preface,containing the perfons written vn- tb9EP^
to3and writing; the one weeendorfe on the back- u efrefati*
fide ofour letters; the other wevfe to fubferibe af-
ter them. Secondly, the matter; in which three. x.rbe matter,
things arc contained : firft,becaufe louc edifieth^ie *» ******
beares her witnefie of the things commendable in t'rcet gm-
her ; that his rebuke,comming from loue, might be

better «

2 A Cdtteat for cold ChrtslUns.

better digefted. Secondly, in this 4. verfe. he men-
tioneth that, for which he had a faying to her,that
is to fay, that (lie was fallen from her firft loue, it
was decayed in her. Thirdly, in the fifth an dfixth
verfes hee prefcribes a remedy: in fetting downe
which,heobierues this order.: firft, hefets downe a
double praftice which would reftore her, <yi\. rc-
membring her fall and repenting. Secondly, be-
caufe the medicine is bitter, and not eafily taken;
hee fhewes her the great perill, the mortall hurt
which will enfue,if this be negle&ed. Thirdly, hee
encourageth his patient; fhewing, that yet there
was a good figne, that loue was not quite gone,
though it was in feme fort leflened and enfeebled,
becaufe fhe hated the workes of theNicolaitans:
Thus with a bitter potion, fending her a mwus
C^r////3Chrift folding vp (as it were) a pill in gold,
that it might bee let downe the more pleafantly.

3. conclttfm. Hauing finifhed thef matter,he comes to conclude :
in which, firft by a folemne O yes, hee makes attenti-
on ; and for a clofe,makes a moft comfortable pro-
mifeto fuch who fhould ouercome,outwreftling
by repentance fuch tentation, as accompanies thefc
declinings,™*. that they fhould haue further reue-
lation ofChrift made in them,and further commu-
nion for the prefent by grace with him ; and hercaf-

rhefHwmeof. ter the blefled fruition of him in glory. The fummc
of thefe words to be handled is this : though many
good things be found with thee, yet thy firft loue is
left^ the flame of thy loue which reached to heauen i
wafted all inordinate concupifcence, and was fruit-
full in good workes, this is fiinke downe and quen-
ched ; therefore aduife with thy felfe, and well con-

fider

A CAuedtfor coldChriflUm. 3

fidcr how thou art fallen ( as it were ) from heauen
to earth; iudgc this thine ownc iniquitic; turning
fromit,returneto God in the waies of righteouU
ne(Tc,bringineforth the fame fruits of liuely loue,
which heretofore hauc been difcerncd in thce.Thus
we may fitly come to the confiderations , whick
may dire&ly be deduced from thefe words for our
further inftru&ion.

Firft,thatthefeEphefiansarechalenged tohaue i.obfer*.
left their firft loue, wee fee what is the condition of rbtdifcaft. ft
Chriftians; come to fome good ftate, they are rea- hj-si-j-m^ *vW$.,<
cjy to decline; when now they haue made great 'li^im^tt witfcU
proceeding in Ioue,theyarc ready to coole againe. T>-K^*V* 1.
Euen as it is in the body, when it is in the mod ex-
cellent temperature , the durance thereof is not
long ; fb it is in the foule alfo, when it is in the beft
taking,euen then it is fubied to alteration. So the
Galathians,thelfraelites» how foone did the one
fall fronuhe Gofpell,and the other from their ioy
in that God,which had dcliuered them? Such is
our frailty, and fuch -are Satans enterprifes againft
vs. But for more full opening of this point, two The firfl opened.
things fhall be vnfolded; firft, what it is the true
ChriftLtnsfall from, when they leaue their loud:
2. whence it comes,^ being fo wel proceeded they
decline,To the firft let, that it is not the tranfitcrie
flafhing3thefweetnefle, the delight, or gladnefle in
heart which wee feele in our firft loue. For this
which comes not (o much from the things of our
peace,as from the nouelty of them ; from this, that
the light of them doth firft fhinc vnto vs; this which
by reafon of fuch circumftance is in vs,may bee loft
and left without finne: the Angels loue^workes

B fbme-

4 A Caueatfor cold Chrifliam.

fbmewhat in them touching the conuerfion of a
finner,whennowhc is firft conuerted, which con-
ftantly abides not with them : as for example, the
ioy there mentioned, Luk. 15. Secondly, I {ay it
was not that diuine quality of loue, which the fpirit
of God bringeth forth in regenerating of vs $ for
this could not bee loft, it being part of our new
birth which abideth ; according to that, Hce who
is borne of God finneth not,for the feede of God a-
bidethhimrand Cor. 1. 13, Loue faileth not: not
onelybecaufeforthekindit abides in heauen, but
becaufe the lelfe lame in number, which by the fpi-
rit is brought forth in vs,fhall neuer haue end; it be-
ing fuch a diuine fier,which no waters of tentation
can quench and extinguifh. It remaines then, that
they arefaid to haue left their firft loue, in regard
that their outward works (which are as con(picuous
fruits growingout of this tree of loue), in regard, I
(ay,that thele were decayed and impaired, they art
laid tohaueleft their firft loue.Thefe are all of them
things fubieft to alteration:though the diuine qua-
lity of Chrift remaine with vs; the Scripture makes
this,toberootedinloue,adiftind thing from ha-
ujngloue. Paul therefore asking in the third of the
Ephefians,inbehalfeof them, that they might bee
rooted in loue, and fo made able to apprehend
more perfedly the loue of God to them in Chrift,
aimes at fome Angular degree of affe&ion. For as
plants are not (when prefently fet firft) deeply roo-
ted 2 fb thefe diuine graces, faith, loue,&c, grow vp
in vs to fuch a rooted firmenefle, and fctlcdnefTe,
that wee are not eafily moued and troubled in the
practice of them. A man loues truly at firft, yet

leffe

A Cmdtfor coldChriflUm. 5

kflcgroundedly. Whence it is,that little entice-
ments allure him, and withdraw him into naps of
foirituallforgetfulneffe; little (nibs difmay him3and
make him fhrinke in^little things make him doubt
of Gods louc to him ; yea, of his owne perfeuering
inlouetoGod : but being better acquainted by ex-
perience with the Lords fidelity, mercy, patience,
&c, he takes rooting more and more in this holy
affedion . Now it is fo, that the loue of thefc Ephe-
fians began to hang more loofe in them, then fom-
time it was wont. For looke as any thing that now
ftands, ftedy may come to bee loofened, yet re-
maine die thing it was before, though not firme as
before ; fo it is in loue : fo ioynts that are loofened,
yet remaine ioynts. Secondly, the operation,
the feruent rnouing of loue was growne remifle.
For looke as in materiall fiers, the feruent heate
may(lake,andfier ftill abide; as in the body, the
powers of hearing and feeing are fafe (as in fleepc),
though the exercife of them bee ceafed and bound
for a time: euen fo our loue, which (like a ficr)
groweth further and further kindled in vs for a
time,may be by fome occafions abated3in regard of
the feruor and heate,when yet the being of it is ftill
continued. Thirdly,in regard of works, which the
operation of their loue produced in their foules in-
wardly, and toward God and man outwardly, in
this regard they were declined. In their foules, the
light of the Lord did not dilcufle the clouds of
felfc and earthly luftings3as it had done formerly;
nor were their duties fuch now, as fometime they
had been toward God and man. Looke as in the
5unne,the eflentiall brightnes remaining the lame,

B a " the

6 A dutdtjor aid Cbrtmmu

theeffeft neuerthelefle of it in difpcrfing clouds,
and in lightening thcayreisfomtime dinrinifhed,
fbmetimc quite eclipfed:fo here the diuine nature
or light of loueremaining3yet the effeft thereof in
their fbules,both in clearing them from earthly de-
fires^ falfe loues y as alfb in making them fruitfull
in good duties, this effed of it was nothing for
meafure, fuch as once might haue been obferued in
Rcafon. them. Now if you aske, whence it comes to pafle,

1 that a maaiii. ;ig made good proceedings, fhould
decay in his loue^I anfwere.-Firft/rom a fecret floth,
which makes vs wearie of well doing. A dull Afles
trot will not laft long: fuch wee areofourfelues,
there being a fpirituall fluggifhnefle hanging about
our bones, which is ftill ready to returne on vs.For
this it is that the Scripture calleth on vs, Bee not

2 flothfull,Hebr.£. Secondly, the longer wee are oc-
cupied in any thing, the more wee are taken with a
fatiety of it. This we fee proues true eucn in the de-
lights of nature ; no wonder then if Manna grow no
rneate with vs,ifheauenly things and courfes ieeme
lefle taftfull, while they are continued; Specially
while we negleft to take paines with our hearts,
th^twemay come to the thankful vnderftanding
of fo great benefits 5 and on the other fide, to the
prudent obferuation of our wants $ whether

' wee looke at the inward frame of our foules,
^ or at any dutie which we performs. Thirdly, we fee
that the more we goe to the perfe&ion of any thing,
the more difficulty we finde: now when wee come
to meet with hardnefle, there wee are refldy,(with-
out ftrength miniftred) to flack our endeauour, and
thinkewnh the fluggard, Better an handfull with

cafe.

eafe,thenfarre more with difquictnefle. Fourthly, 4
the diucll, by finnes of time and perfons among
whomweliuc, much weakens our loue 5 through
the abundance of iniquitie loue fhall waxe cold.
Sometime the example of others(likeabackc-byas)
drawing vs from the precifenefle of our care in
fome duties, in which wee endeauoured before to
walke with God : otherwife the fcoffing, and iniu-
rious fpightfulneffe of wicked ones,making vs af-
fraid to fhew our loue as wewould & J fhould with
liberty befeeming. Etien as a damp puts out a light :
fo this fog of fin fuffocates and foothers the light-
fome blaze of loue , though it cannot quench it
throughout in vs. Laftly, the diuell commonly fa-
ttens vpon vs a (pirituall fecurity and fulneflc, when 5
we are fomewhatproeeeded (whereas wee rtiould
forget what is palled); and being fecure and full3we
watchlefleagainftfuch things, as by little and lit-
tle quench the fpirit in vs. Now feeing this is the „r
condition of Chriftians in good eftate, it muft bee ■* *
as a glafle to vs,wherein we may behold our fr^Jty
Did thefe, when now they were gone on farre in
grace,did they then giue in and decline ?, though it
be the ftate of fome onely , yet it muft breed a h^ly
terrour in vs all,making vs liften to the counfell,Lct
him that ftands5take heed left he fall. Elpecially^ we g
muft be carefull, becaufe wceliueinthelafttimcs^
wherein this cold fit growes a popular . difeafe : the
loue of many fhall waxe cold through abundance
of iniquity. Now as liuing where fome bodily con-
tagious difeafe raigneth^we willlooketo ourfelucs
more carefully : fo we muft proportionably bee cir-^
cumfpeft for our foules, that they bee not infe&ed

B3 by

8 A Cauettfor cm ChriJlUns.

by this common contagion.Some thinke that when
weteach,thattrueloue,whereitis once, there it is
euer , and fo of true grace^there is opened a window
to fecurity, and we make men warrants toliueas
they lift : but there is no fuch matter,while we teach
that they may fall into fuch languifhing ficknefles,
as will make their conditions fcemc a liuing death,
rather then otherwife. Were the conditions of our
bodies immortal,yet fuch,as on any mif-diet might
con trad painfull and fearfull ficknefTes ; fhould wee
then haue caufe to be fecure, & caft away all care of
dietingour felues? fo it is in our foules; though this
life ofloue is eternall3yet it is fubieft to fuchlan-
guiftiing maladies without the greater care taken,
that none of vs in this refpedi: can want a fufficient
fpurre to incite our diligence. I will deferre a fur-
ther word of exhortation to the next inftru&ion.
Marke then as thefe tell away in their loue, fo the
Lord challenges them for it, as a thing much dif
pleafing his Maiefty,and dangerous to their foules*
z.Obkru. % Obferue hence, that coldnefle and remilhefle in
the courfes of fuch as are religious, much offend
God, God accurfeth fuch as doe his worke floth-
fuWy, though he bid them fheath their fwords in
the blood ofothers:and the hike warme Chriftian,
that is neither hot nor cold, the Lords ftomackc
beares not. To lend the clearer light to the~ dp-
&rine,wemuft firft know what this finfull remit
nefTe is : fecondly, why it is fo difpleafing and
harmcfull.Forthefirft,a man is not to thinke all
v that a remifle courfe(here challenged) ,which comes
- fhortof fome more powerfull and fruitfull ftraine
in his courfe of life,which he hath palfed. For there

arc

A Laucai for wia u nnjiiams* p

are degrees of diligence, and the leaft well accep-
ted with God. Euen as an induftrious husband
hath fome feafons , Wherein his labour is double
to that it is ordinarily, and yet his courle is at no
time idle : lb a fpirituall good husband, may (on
occafions) be lifted to fuch powerfull endeauour,
which he hath not continuing with him at all times,
and yet be farre from this finfull remifnefle.Second-
ly,it is not a remifle, feeble, weake walking, which
proceedeth from a fpirituall faintnefle in vs, being
vnder many tentations ;for euen feeble and remifle
anions in this feafon, are nofmall labour of our
loue,and moft acceptable to God; we muft not goc
all by quantity. A ficke man may fhewmore labour,
and tire his feeblcd ftrength more, in doing that
which in two houres might bee difpatched, then a
found man can fhew in a whole dayes worke. For
though the found man doth more in quantity, yet
he doth lefle in proportion then the ficke, fo farre
the ficke is from being idle, Euen as the rich men
that offered, though they gaue more in quantitie
then the widow,yet (he did more inproportion ( if
her ability be confidcred) then they all. It therefore
no t being a comparatiue remilhefle, which m?y be
fo termed,in regard of more extraordinary beftir-
ring our felues,nor yet a feeble remifnefle ; what re-
giaines,but that it fhould bee fuch a remifnefle, as
commeth from fpirituall floth,caufed in vs by lufts,
which we haue in fome degree entertained?Forwhe
lufts do get the vpper hand fo ouer vs,that we ftriuc
not with them,but goe on in them, though they eat
out the life and power which we felt in our courfes,
and make vs that we can be well cnough,though we

feele

l0 A Cdttest f$r coMckritiUns.

fcclc not our communion with God in that meafure
we were wont ; this is euer ioyned with a finfull fiiU
ling from the loue in which we walked,

Me*fofi, Now the reafon wherein this comes to be Co of-

fenfiuc, is taken from Gods coniugall loue^ which
makes, hmiholily icalous of the loue of his people.
What doth a louing husband take fo gricuouflyag
the finding want of loue in his (poufe ; as to (pie the
hart of her withdrawne3that it is not as it was here-
tofore toward him ? and it is harmfull to vs, by^au-
fing lometime outward chaftifement (as (loth itv
fcholers & feruan ts, forceth corre&ion from goucr-
nors), by caufing vncefiantly a wafting of the life of
grace in vs. For as fier not blowne,goes out; (b this
loue,whenwcaregrownccold and remifle, dies a-
Avay, &c fals into a dangerous (wounc, which makes
our ftatcs no t a little frightfoll.

ypt This then being a thing fo dilpleafing and hurt-

full,wemuft examine our felues how it is withvs,
whether we haue not taken fbme (pice of this cold.
If wee would apply our confideration nationally,
what doth the Atheifmc, the mcere brood of Arri-
ans, the (warming of Papifts, the drunkennefle, vn-
cle^Rnes of thefe time proclaime,but that our loue
isinfome meafurc left? But wee will ftrainc this
ftring no further, becaufc it is the beft for vs to
weare our eyes at home ; if wee looke to our (elues
per(bnally,fliall we finde it otherwife ? Ginnot wee
many of vs take pleafitre in the company of fuch,
who care not how they prouoke our heauenly huC
band? doe not we walke without feeling, feare of
offending our God? cannot we pafle ouer our of-
fences lightly, calling that at our heeles, which

grieues

A GAttutfor coldChrijiuns. \ \

<grieucs his hcart?canno t we flight oucr our duties,
and put God off with fuch for rie feruicc, as if any
thing were good enough for him ? haue we not had
fbmetime good purpofes and endcauours, from
which now we are fallen? If weebepriuietothefe
things,itistoofure,ourfirft loue is exceedingly a-
bated.

In the fecond place,wc muft awaken our hearts,
and ftirre them vp to this loue.Let vs thinke,Lord,
fhould Ioffcrthismcafure to an earthly husband,
ncuer to bee afraid after doing that, which I knew
would difpleafe him;to take delight infuch(I knew)
neuer bare him good will 5 would it not make me
blufh ?how much leffe ought I to vfe thy Maiefty
fo iniurioufly ? Wc brooke not, that loue fhould
not grow in them toward vs, with whom we are
married^why fhould our loue be leflened to thee ?
We would checkeour felues in affoording vnchaft
fauours to men^whatcaufehauewe to take vp our
felues , that our affe&ions giue fuch vnchaft kit
les to thefe earthly delights,and dwell fo in the im-
brace of them,that they are indifpofed, & wanting
deuotion toward thy Maiefty? O let vs take words
to our felues and blow this fparke, that it may flafie
vpward toward our God, If while our hearts are in
the loue of (bme louely creature, wc findc fuch
fwectnefle^ what a heauen fhould they feele, did
they loue the Lord affe&ionately? in this loue there
would-be no lacke.

Againe, while wc haue not fbmc warmth of loue rfe x«
in our courfes,nought we do is accepted.If I would
giue my body to be burned,and wanted loue (faith
the Apoftlc)3it profited nothing* Eucn as n6 office

C is

12 A Cmutfor cold Cbriftiarrr.

is acceptable to a husband from a wife, when the
loue of her heart is withdrawne and cooled. On the
contrary 3it (hould prouoke vs to renue our loue,
becaufe while this is liuely in vs3 God fees many
faults,and fees them not : as in Dantd, whom God
counted after his heart, but in the matter of Frtih.
Itisplaine,thatGod did notlooke at any infirmi-
ties,while his feruant (in this maine matter of fpiri-
tualloue)keptvpright with him. Looke as itisbe-
tweene husband and wife, while loue and fidelity
are kept inuiolablc, little faults are not obierued
andftobdvpon fo,asto make falling out betwixt
them ; (b it is twixt God and his people : while this
heateofloueisftirredvpinour couries, ourfoules
fhallbepreferued inhealthfomeftate,and grace en-
creafed. For as that exercife,which dothftirrcvp
the naturall heate, if it be but ad rubtnm vfijue,
doth benefit the body,wavling(in fbm^ degree) the
fiiperfluitics,which are ready to breed erifuingfick-
nefle: So notonely thofc eminent mouings of loue^
wherein fheeexceedes her felfe^but euery courfe
which is with life and power of loue inany meafiire,
encreafeth and ftablifheth grace, and confumes the
revues of corruption in vs.

pfi 3. Finally jifnothing will moue vs to weane our af-

feftions^nd (et them more feruently on the Lordj
but that we will goe on key-cold (in a manner) to
God-ward : then the Lord will not faile to pay vs
home with our owne coyne$ and make thefe thirigs
breed vs fmart, which Aveehaue moft inordinately
loued,to his great difhonour.

■Ttonmtdy. Thus hauing confidered the difeafe,we come to
the rerriedie,which ftands in a double practice : the

one

A Cdutitfcr cildCbtifium. r ^

onepreparatiue to the other; the one of remem-
bring whence {he was fallen; the other of repenting,
which is fet forth by the fruit of it, Repent and dee
thy fir ft workes. In the firft we are to marke two
things ; firft,the a&ion commanded ^Remember. Se-
condly , the obie£t of it jvAence thou art f dim.

Whence wee obferue^with what our memories -i.Oiferu.
are to be taken vp; euen with our eftates, and the
decliningsofthem.

For opening this-do&rine,two things muft be in*
fifted on. Firft, we muft open what remembrance is,
what it concaineth within the compafle of it. Se-
condly, what is to be remembred of vs. For the
firft, as we fee it is with man,hee hath fome worke
without doores, which he goes out to; fome he
do di,ftaying within : fo the mind doth fome things
without, fome things it doth retired into it felfe,
keeping within it felfe, and working onely on it
felfe; as when it remembers or deliberates on any
matter. Now euery working of the mind, tends
-either to this end, that we may know better by
meanesofit; or that we might doe fomthing that
isbeboouefulL Now this remembrance is a cer-
taine operation ofthefbule within it felfe, whete-
by we thinfce on things forgotten -.to the end we
maybeftirredvptofuch confcionable pra&ice, as
the nature of the thing remembred requires. It
.containes three things : firft, an entring into our
felues;when a man returnethinto his thoughts, no
longer wandring to and fro in thefc outward
- things,in which hehad (afterafort) loft and for-
gotten himfelfe :For. this is the beginning of that
-remembrance which leades to repentance; See

C 2 Deut.

14 A Cttttatftr cold Christians.

Deut.30. i, i.King. 8.47, Secondly 3 a bethinking
and calling things to mind fo farre,as to know how
things ftand with vs. Thirdly, when wc are bidrc-
Tncmbcr5wearc enioyned to fct cur hearts on,keepe
in mind,confider the ftate we are in,and confequen-
ces of it,Pial.50. 22, Conftdtr thisye thatfvrget God.
Where consideration andforgetfiilnefie are oppo-
fcd. / confidcred my wayesjnd/o rtfenttd. Thus you
fce,whatthis duty of remembrance includes in it.
♦ Now for the matter to be remembrcd, it is our
eftate,and the declining of it.
Reafcn 1 . For next to God,we are to haue our owne eftates
in mind ; both what they were before grace, Eph.2.
for it doth make vs thankfull, diligent, humble : wc
vnuft not,with the Prieft,forge tour old Clerk-fhip^
wenuiftftillcarricin mind our naturall eftate, to
the ends aboue named.
t Secondly, we muft remember our eftates fince
grace ;both in regard of our frailty and proneneflc
tofall,though we ftand through Gods protection
and fupportancc : for this will make vs mecke to o-
thers,Galath.^.i,and.watchfullouer our fellies. Se-
condly, in regard of our falles fincc we receiued
gftice; whether they be fucb,ofwhich we hailing re-
pented, find them aTready pardoned, Deut. 9. y^or
whether they be fuchfalles,in which wee haue lien
hitherto durtily, not awaking our fellies to repen-
tance. And this kft« remembrance is required of
thefc Ephefians , that they fhould remember and
confider how much they were declined, though
they lkdetookc it to heart. For this duty is need-
full,thatwernayfecle in our felues a fpurreto re-
pentance, in which the face is wri then awry fovn-

feemly.

fecmly.Thc fight of our naturall deformity in a
glatfe,ftirs vp nature to inforcc her felfe to remoue
it :1b here the looking vvifhly on our fpirituall de-
formity ,cxcites euen feeble grace to doe her vtmoft
endcauour for correcting it.

This which hath been Ipoken, ferues to conuince Vfi*
many,who Hue neueronce returning to their harts,
and confidering their ftate in fuch wife, as might
make them wife to faluation. Many goe like hood-
ed haukcs3neuer once thinking on that which hurts
them, till their foules are ready to fly from their
bodies,and their condition hclplefle.For partly the
foule (as it is faid of the harlot,, whofe feet keepe
not at home) the foule(I fay)liues in the fenfes more
then in it felfe:. as an vnchaft mans heart is more
with his miftrifle, then at home with himfelfe: (b
our foules wedded inordinately to this flefh, are
more occupied about thefe fenfible things , and
dwell more in them then in themfelues. Againe,
Satan is mod malitious to hold vs chat(as it were),
and kcepevs occupied till this time and tide of fel-
uation be ouerflipped: and finally, the exercifefo
little futes to an impenitent heart (for men that
are bankruptSjWhatplcafiire take they inreuiewing '
their bookes?),thatalmoft none entring into nim-
felfe,callestomind and fixedly holds his heart to
thinke on things of this nature. This negleft (like
a flood-gate opened) letteth in all euilland impe-
nitency. What makes men Iweare, bowze, giuc
place to their lufts,goe on inhardnefle of heart ? is
knot that they are ignorant, or that they haue an
erroneous iudgement,as if thefe were lawfull, >and
repcntancenecdlcffe? it is forgetting themfelues,

C 3 and

16 * Laneatjer ma ^hrtjmns.

and neuer once confidering what they doe, and
how they goeon. Secondly, we muft make confer-
ence to exercife our remembrance about thisfub-
ie<3:,euen what fwcrtiings and declinings haueo-
uertaken vs. In our bodies and eftates we will quick-
ly marke what is amifle,and not eafily forget it: If
matter of wrong be done to vsjt ftickes in memory,
as if it were written in braflc: we are not weary of
remembring earthly things, fuch is our eftimation
of them,and familiar acquaintance with them.Shal
weonelybe wanting to ourfelues in remembring
here, when our faluation lieth vpon it ? therefore as
you will haue the latter end peace, fo remember
your way es, finnes, declinings; the more you re-
member them,the more God will forget them(pro-
tionably to that, If we condemne ourfelues, God
will not condemnevs),and we had need hold our
hearts to the remembrance of them ; they will not
heare lightly on this fide. Such is the loue in vs to
our naturall good, and care to auoid ficknefle, po-
uerty^that we cannot fofoone call to mind our de-
feds and dangers,but that we apprehend them, and
turne from them. But fo auerfe are we from our hea-
uenly good,and carelefle of fpirituall dangers; that
whenwefpeakeofthem againe and againe within
ourfelues, the foule will hardly be mooued to fol-
low the one,or giue attendance to the other fb,as to
feeke the auoidance of them. Alas, if we will not
now be brought to thinke of our daily flips, decli-
nings,of the grieuous finnes in which we goe on
without repentance; if we will not, I fay, God fhall
one day enlarge our memories, that they fhall ap-
prehend all ourfinnes : yea thishardneffe of heart,

which

A Caueatfor cold Chrifiians. 2 7

which would not let them repent,when exhortedj
and that in fuch fort, that the remorfe and after-
thought of them fhall be as a worme that nener
dies. He who doth nioft willingly forget his finnes
here, fhall remember them there, moft fully and
painfully hereafter.

To proceed to the fecond practice, Remembet : A%obferu.
whence thou art fallen, and repent. Firft marke, vpon
thedeclinings ofgracehebids them repent 5 teach-
ing,that the leaft declinings of grace in our felues
andothers,is a caufe of repentance.

The falles of others wemuft repent of, left we Reafcn.
make them ours,& inwrap our felues in their iudge-
ments. We are members of the fiime body with
diem 1 and therefore what we doe in our owne, wc
muftinfome proportion doe in their finnes alfb.
When the health ofbody declined in Bawds coun-
terfeit friends, he humbled himfelfe id fafting,Pfal.
35, And when one Corinthian being inceftuous,
was not caft forth. Saint Paul prouoketh them all
to repentance. Now in our owne declinings we
muft take them betimes, left that which is halting
tumequiteafide.Ifaforrenenemie inuade vs, wee
ftay not till he come to our gates3but meet him 2nd
hold him play betimes. If a bodily difeafe breed on
vs,we loue to looke forth quickly. Thus it fhould
be, when fin ( an enemy ,yea a ficknefle to the fbule )
doth (b much as make entrance into vs. And this is
fore, that often fmalleft declinings are not a little
dangerous. It is feene in nature, that the moft tem-
perate diftemper ( fuch as at firft is in an hc&ick fe-
uer) as it is not eafily found, lb it is hardly cured.
Thus in our foules declinings,whkh wee fee not to

be

x 8 A Cam At for cold CbrifiUns.

be fo outragious3but that vvc are well enoughfor all

them, thefe often proue moft perillous.

Againe,thismuftmoucvs betimeto dealcv/ith

[ *. t*mrif£*P*to6\\r fellies in finne ;for the beginning of it ( as Sato*

*£ ^^M^^m9n fa*tn of ftrifc) is l^e the opening of waters • lit-

.To3c*>. t-»7^: f fjtlc though it feemc at firft, yet it will (well and rife

^^n^lwebeouerflownewith it.

j^^rf^"^^^ This therefore muft checke vs, who neither re-

'*?$£! «. b*<*&!'fl pent for the declining of the people in the land, nor

J^Tjfe . the decay ofgrace in our felucs. The truth is, that

looke as in {weeping a kennell, the further it is dri-

uen do wn,the more filth abounds; fo the lower ages

with vs, are asfinkesreceiuingall the defilements

of former times,and our iniquities arc more encrea-

fed. Now if by repentance we put it not from vs, we

make our felues little better then actors in prefent

tranfgrcflions, by commenting to them. And for our

owne particulars,wee are many of vs to be blamed,

who like foolifh perfons let our fores putrifie,rather

then open them, and endure their drefling more

timely. Many of vs ( who till fharpe fits force vs

forth) will not (eeke out againft our difeafes. Thus

eafe flayeth the foolifh. But let vs be wife • let vs not

thftke all well,while we can hold vp our head, and

fcele not the painfull pangs of conference. The child

is brcd,before the pangs of trauell come • fo the fin,

it may be,hath laine a long time in vs, which if wee

in time dcale not with,will one day fill vs with re-

mcdilefleforrowes. A good husband mends a gut-

ter;if a tile be fallen,he fupplieth another ; he keepes

all winde and water-tite : in like fort muft we in

thefe foules of ours,which are houfes to God his fpi-

r i t,w e (hall elfe bring all vpon our heads. And thus

much

A Catteatfor cold Chi(li arts. \$

much for this do&rine,which in the coherence may
be obferued.

The matter it felfe,or leeond exercife prelcribcd tob[erfim
is repentance, fetdowne by the effeft of it, doe thy J
frft wot kes. Now that againft this ficke ftate he pre-
fcribes this remedic,/tyw/ ; we fee what expels and j
heales all iuch matters in the foule,w&, repentance.
This will helpe euery malady : were a man ficke of
the confumptionof his lungs,there were fmaihope,
it is mors lenta, but w/<* ; well, languifhing Ephefus
euen in a (bule-confumption is reftored by repen-
tance. We fee in nature euery part hath a faculty of
expelling what is noxious andharmfull: the lungs
haue their cough; thebraine his fneezing, ando-
ther excretions ; the ftomacke will turne it felfe
topfie turuie,but itwill bring vp( by vomit) that
which offends.Not to profecute this, in ftead of all
the(e,and fuch like, the loule of man in this condi-
tion wherein it contra&s corruption, hath this fa-
culty of repentance put into it, whereby it empties
it felfe of all that which is offenfiue. But for the fur-
ther edifying you in this point, I will open two
tilings : nrft,in what this pra&ice ftands : fecondly,
how we may excite repentance. The aft of repen-
tance is a certaine determination,which the vnder-
ftanding makes and propounds. Secondly, in the
turning away of the will from that finne it lay in;
as now hauing it in abomination. Thirdly, in cer-
taine affedions and aftions, which the will (now
changed) excites in vs. For firft,in repentance, the
mind apprehends, and determinately fets downe
thus much,that we lie in a fearfull eftate, guilty of
grkuous finne ; the vnderftanding (peakes thefe

D things

20 A Cdtttatfor cold Chrtttuns.

things within vs: O we hauc done fooliftily, what is
it we haue done ? we are worthy to be cut off; wc
hauefinned,done wickedly ,peruerfly,Dan.p.Ezech.
20.1cr.6.8. rKing.8. Now while the vnderftan-
ding fpeakes this in the foule, the will perceiuing
byhervnderftanding,inwhat euillfhee hath lien,
uirnes it felfc away,nilling and hauing in abomina-
tion the finne it liued in.Whathauel to doe with
idols((aith repenting Ephraim),Hof. 14? For looke
as in the body,not the prefence of ficke matter, but
the ftirring of it ;fo that, nature begins to feele the
malignancieof.it; this (timng is that which makes
nature to fight with it, and driue it forth.: fo
not the prefence of finne,but when the fenfe of it is
conueyed,by this the vnderftanding fpeakes, then
thcfoulesendeauour of turning it away is excited.
TJiirdly the will thus abhorring it, caufeth certaine
affe&ions to arife 5 asgricfe, indignation, reuenge>
fhamefaftneffe,2^Cor.7.Hebr. 12. 28. Yea it com-
mandscertaine outward a&ions : confeffion, hum-
bling our felues in fading ;fome,as fignes and tcfti-
monies ; fome,as meanes alio further helping ir.For
as after a medecine taken, Phyfitians prefcribe fa-
ftng,fixe or eight houres more or lefle, as the na-
ture of things require^and that to this end, that the
medecine may more eflfe&ually grapple with the
matter to be expelled, hauing no auocament: fb
here we reftraine meates,andall delights for afea-
£>n,that the flefh may be more fully wrought vpon
by the Spirit^whilethe worke of the foule, by thefe
carnallauocaments is nothing hindrcd. Now for
exciting,if hauing fet before vs our finne, we feele
aot our hearts penitently affected, then muft we

thintc.

A Cdutdtfor ccldchrifluns. i \

thinkc how it is with vs in outward euils, and take
words to our felues,faying ; Lord, if I fee any dan-
ger towards my body or eftate, forrow will come
beforclfendforit. In default but of complement
with man,I can be afhamed quickly. *what Atheifme
and hardnefle of heart is this,that I canthinkc of my
fumes againft thee, indangering my foule,and that
without gricfe or blufhing?

Thus hauing made this difcouerie of the hard- /^.
hartcdnefle in vs3we muft ( conlcious of our owne
inability) looke to Chrift, whogiueth repentance
and pardon of finne; who takes away the heart of
ftone3giuingvs hearts tender and flefhie. If yet it
rife not to our defire, we need not feare, this is the
feed which will grow vp to that we wifti, indue
time. This then being thus,that repentance is fo fo-
ueraigne a medecine for all difeafes of the foule ;
how ftiould we be inamoured with it? what good
reafonhauewetoholdit in high efteeme? would
not one account much of fuch a receit, as taken in
any bod ily ficknefle were prefent remed je ?

Againe,it muft moue vs to the confcionable pra- yfe.
dice here enioyned,feeing it is fo beneficiall to the
foule:what will we not endure for our bodies ? t£h
making them ficke with bitter potion,incifion; yea,
cutting off,if a member be putrified, fearing them
in diuers parts with hot irons : fhall we goe thus
farre for thegood of the body, and refufc the pra-
ctice of this exercife for the good of our foules? I
may fpcake to thy impenitent breaft, as Haamans
feruants fpake to him about the cure of h is leprof le :
Fttber y ft he Prtphet had comanded thee 4 hard tbi*%y
Muldtjt then not h&uedore it? how much mere feetna

D 2 he

$2 A Canut for cold Chri fit arts.

be faith JVaJh and be draw. If God had commanded
thee a hard thing, vvouldeft thou not haue done it
to auoid damnation ? How much more muft thou
obey,when he faith,Be but grieued, and condemne
your finnes your felues,I will not condemne you ?
Ffi* Neither muft they onely5vvho are priuie to grea-

ter finnes (as more mortall ficknefies) repent them ;
but we alfo,feeing we all of vs, though wee haue no
fuch dead fickneffes, yet we haue fuch corruptions
as will breed vs bitternefle, if we auoide them not
by repentance, if ye repent not,you fhall perifh, ye
mydifciples. Men that are well, how would it goe
with them,if neither by vrine,nor fiege they fhould
get eafementof fuch fuperfluitie as is to be expel-
led ? they would not long continue well. So it is,
though we are well for grace fhewed vs, yet our
foule daily contra&eth and harboureth fuch mat-
ter,whichif we purge it not forth by renewed re-
pen tance3 we may aflure our felues it will turne to
fomefcarfull foule-fickneffe. Let vs not be like fuch
foolifh ones, who goe on in fome difeafe, rather
then they will trouble the humour, and difeafe
themfelues one day, let things goe on with them
till they are curelerfe. I know the diuell makes it
feeme a painfull thing to leaue our delights, to di£
quiet our felues, and fit as Iudges condemning our
felues within our felues. A fluggard thinkes it in-
tolerable to rife; yet when he is vp, he findes it not
painfull : fa here. But were it troublous, is it not
better to put thy confidence out of officejby iudge-
ing thy felfe , then haue GOD and thy confer-
ence condemae thee eternally ? To conclude this
point,doe we catch any fall bodily, but wc will get

vp

A Cdueatfer cold Chrtftians, 2 3

vpagaine,though we rife from hand to knee, and
get vp but faintly ? O let vs be wife in the fals of our
foules,takeheede to get vp by repentance againc.

Thus much of the pra&ice of repentance : now 6.0bfertt.
for the c&d^ce thy fir ft works, I obferue,that finne
by repentance remoued,our former abilities are re-
ftored. Euen as in nature, when the a&ions of any § 0 f ^ \ £ • <■ i\
part are hurt by this or that ficke matter hurting^- iSb^ft^71!* f«
them •, take but away the difeafc, the part will doe ^ ■ pklrf**"' {'t'{z'
that belongeth to it as ably as cuer : fo the foule
once healed by repentance, puts forth the pov/ers
of it felfe as it did before : yea ( as they fay ) a bone %#£ jwe^W^"^fe
broken and well fetagaine, isftrongerthcn euerit^^n-z-?^^71?^^
was ;fo Gods often mending ^ f™iU k,r ****„ *£C..~«(tfc* kteru <J

tance, exceeds the former maki

blefled exercife of a broken ipirii

the vertueof it? whether we looke at cuils in thc^^vv^/Q^

(bulc^or in the body and condition. It often hca-OxC^'S^-fog'^

lethfoule-euils,fo that there is no fear left in themr*iu*n^^4 ^ fr

of the wound receiued. Peter* prefumptuous man|^#yf^K* ^/^

{landing on comparifon3thou^halthefcleaue thee,^ ™xwffif5K
yet,&c, ro#fofuUoffclfc-louVo f«rfuUof dcath,2p%?Sy^
that he denied his Lord and Mafter: when now 4.
God had touched him with repentance, mark Pbw
cleerehe rofe vp (as it were) from thefe cuils. The
night before he fhould haue been martyred,he flept
as (bundly as if he had not been priuie to any fuch
matter : and when Chrift asked him, Doefl then /cue
me more then thefe f Peter now had forgot his com-
panions, Lord thou knorvefl I toue thee. So Dtutd jxhen
God had now enlightened his darkneile after the
matter of Pru/^hc felt fuch fpirituall ftrength, as if
he could haue leaped ouera wall,or broken through

D 3 an

24 d CdutAtfcr coldChriBUns.

an armie. True it is that fbmtime when repentance
is not in the more through degree, but done by
halues^then it is as in bodily difeafes,which goe not
cleanc away,but leaue the party ntntrum conualefccn-
ti&, that is, not well, but onely fomewhat mending,
rather thenfully rcftored. This it doth in regard of
foule-dheafcs that arc entred; but if wee fearc their
growing on vs, then this pra&ic«foIlowed,isan ex-
cellent preferuatiue,preuenting their entrance,

Nowforbodily and conditional! euils,this keeps
them ( vfed in kinde) that they befall vs not. tj/-
cbabs counterfeit repentance obtained no lefle. Se-
condly ,it makes vs grow out of them, if they hauc
ieazed on vs. How did /*£, now humbling himfelfe
in duft and ailies,mount vp (as it were) with Eagles
wings, aboue all his calamities ? If the fentence
touching outward euils be irrcuocablie pafled,yet
fo itaflwagesandfweetens thefe erodes, that wee
haue peace in the middeft of them, and feele not (o
much difturbance from them. As in Mefes 5 who
might not enter Canaan ; in Dauid yvhofe child was
to die, whofe other calamities threatned,were to
luccced.
Vfi . fFhis therefore may lerue for a touch-ftone to

dilcerne,whether our repentance be right,or other-
/ wife: if we haue foundly repented,wee fhall finde it
inourfreedomefromlufts, which fometime trou-
bled vs in our abilities fpirituall, and in the perfor-
mance of our duties. When by our repentant hu-
miliation we grow of vngodly, godly ; of intempe-
rate, fbber ; of vniuft, iuft ; of uothfull, feruent in
good duties ; then we may affiire our felues that our
finne by repentance is taken from vs. Should wee

fee

A Cane at fir cold Christians. 2 5

fee^ho had been feeble, wafted, nowhauing taken
phyficke grow full of blood, flefhie, able to digeft
any thing,ftrong to labour; wee would not doubt
but that his difeafe were fully remoued; but that his
medecincwas right and effedtuall : fo is that repen-
tance right, and that man healed by it,to whom the
workes of grace are now returned: but if wee
hauenot fruits which accompany repen-
tance,thenis our turning to bee
fufpe&ed.

FINIS.

Errata.

Page i, line 1 7. put outCbrijl* p. j, 1. 1&. for let,, r. vi^. p. i o. L 1 2.
for mccrc, r, ncvp*

c

----_——-.- jiggp

,ti;s=s&.

*$^#;